jugar a las cartas
/xuɡaɾ a las kaɾtas/from spelling rules
To play cards in Spanish is jugar a las cartas.
The phrase is used to describe participating in a game using a deck of cards. If you are referring to the deck itself, you can use the word baraja.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, jugar a las cartas translates to 'to play at the cards'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb jugar to express playing a game, you must include the preposition a before the object of the game. Therefore, the correct construction is jugar a las cartas.
How do you pronounce it?
/xuɡaɾ a las kaɾtas/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying jugar las cartas. English speakers often mistakenly omit the preposition a, but you must include it to be grammatically correct.
Did you know?
- The traditional Spanish deck replaces the 'hearts', 'diamonds', 'clubs' and 'spades' with copas (cups), oros (coins), bastos (clubs) and espadas (swords).
- While jugar a las cartas is the general phrase, players in Spain often use a baraja española, which typically contains only 40 or 48 cards instead of 52.
- The word jugar shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'joke', as both trace back to roots meaning 'jest' or 'playfulness'.
Examples in context
- Quiero jugar a las cartas.I want to play cards.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to play cards with jugar a las cartas.Tatoeba #3236316 by Shishir, translation #253304 by CK
- Le gusta jugar a las cartas.He likes to play cards.This sentence is useful for describing someone's preference to play cards with jugar a las cartas.Tatoeba #974692 by Shishir, translation #1439030 by CK
- No quiero jugar a las cartas.I don't want to play cards.Tatoeba #2164424 by hayastan, translation #2012644 by CK
- ¿Le gustaría jugar a las cartas?Would you like to play cards?
- ¿Quién quiere echar una partida de cartas?Who wants to have a game of cards?
- ¡Vamos, jugamos a las cartas!Come on, let's play cards!
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are sitting in a café in the afternoon.
- Sofía¿Quieres jugar a las cartas conmigo?Do you want to play cards with me?
- AlejandroSí, me encantaría jugar a las cartas.Yes, I would love to play cards.
- SofíaPerfecto, yo traigo la baraja.Perfect, I'll bring the deck.
- Alejandro¡Qué bien, vamos a empezar!Great, let's get started!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, jugar, las, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
